Balancing work and life as an intern
Life as an intern can seem like an endless cycle of work-eat-sleep-repeat. It can be easy to lose sight of your relationships with friends, family – and yourself. This factsheet explores ways to improve your work-life balance.
Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Quick guide
- You and your life come first, your job comes second
- Take care of your own health, so you can take care of others
- Night shifts disrupt your body’s natural rhythms, so sufficient sleep is even more important
- Talk to friends and fellow interns who understand your experience
Prioritise your needs to avoid burnout
While medical practice is important, essential work, the old belief that ‘the job comes first’ is no longer sustainable. You cannot be an effective doctor if you are not satisfied or happy in yourself and your life. And especially because your profession is so demanding, it’s crucial to prioritise your own needs.
Pursue interests and hobbies outside of work
At this stage of your career, you’re probably asking yourself what you want out of life and work. Some people genuinely want to spend hours in their clinical or research work, while others have interests and talents completely unrelated to medicine.
Pursuing hobbies helps balance the stresses and demands of your job. Whether it’s a sport or creative activity, volunteering, reading or travel, it’s important to stay connected with the person you are outside of being a doctor.
Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise
Easy to say, difficult to achieve.
As junior doctors, it’s common to go from working day shifts to night shifts and overtime, which can disrupt your sleep patterns and leave little time or energy for exercise.
If you’re working night shifts, you’ll have to get your eight hours of sleep during the day, which can take some getting used to. Research sleep hygiene tips for night shift workers, and plan your sleep time, to maximise success.
As well as sleeping at different hours, you might have your main meals outside the norm. It’s important to still plan healthy meals and not rely on caffeine or sugar for energy to get you through.
With irregular working hours, it can be hard to plan an exercise routine. If this is the case, incidental exercise is better than nothing – walk as much as possible, take the stairs, squat to lift items, etc.
Confide in friends and other interns in tough times
Night shifts can be a vulnerable, lonely experience, because you’re operating at different times to other workers, and most likely your friends. On your days off, if you can, seek out supportive friends for social events, or to confide in. At work, you may not see your colleagues if you’re on different wards, but try to check in on each other during breaks, when possible. No one understands what you’re going through as well as fellow interns, so it’s important to be kind to your colleagues and to accept kindness in return.
More information
For more information or immediate medico-legal advice, call us on 1800 128 268, 24/7 in emergencies.
Disclaimers
This publication is not comprehensive and does not constitute legal or medical advice. You should seek legal or other professional advice before relying on any content, and practise proper clinical decision making with regard to the individual circumstances. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in this publication must exercise their own independent skill or judgement or seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular practice. Compliance with any recommendations will not in any way guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients and others coming into contact with the health professional or practice. Avant is not responsible to you or anyone else for any loss suffered in connection with the use of this information. Information is only current at the date initially published.
Avant Law’s liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Legal practitioners employed by Avant Law are members of the scheme.